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Songs that sound like other songs on Sounds Just Like.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Wednesday, 21 November 2012
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Day 06 - 30 Day Movie Music Challenge
Music from an artist you like but that you didn't expect to hear in a film
Your watching a kids film, Small Soldiers in this case, and it suddenly gets a bit creepy with demented mutant Barbie dolls. Then, to my surprise, Led Zeppelin kicks in!
Fast forward to 4:23 and enjoy.
Have you ever been surprised by a piece of music in a film? For example, I would have gone for The Boys Are Back In Town - a song about drunkenness, fighting and sexism - used for Toy Story, but I think it was only used in the trailer.
Your watching a kids film, Small Soldiers in this case, and it suddenly gets a bit creepy with demented mutant Barbie dolls. Then, to my surprise, Led Zeppelin kicks in!
Fast forward to 4:23 and enjoy.
Have you ever been surprised by a piece of music in a film? For example, I would have gone for The Boys Are Back In Town - a song about drunkenness, fighting and sexism - used for Toy Story, but I think it was only used in the trailer.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Day 05 - 30 Day Movie Music Challenge
Music from a film that introduced you to an artist
I suppose this could be an artist from a soundtrack or from a band that featured in a film. For me, it's from a film of a concert: Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense.
I can't remember if my friend had seen the band live, or if he'd just seen this film, but either way, he talked me into seeing the movie. I've a vague notion that it was a late night showing at the Grosvenor Cinema in Ashton Lane but I might be haivering. I loved the way that David Byrne started off on his own, in a more or less empty stage and then the rest of the band and the stage set built up around him.
A great concert movie and a great introduction to a band. Who did the movies introduce to you?
Oh... and why a big suit?
I suppose this could be an artist from a soundtrack or from a band that featured in a film. For me, it's from a film of a concert: Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense.
I can't remember if my friend had seen the band live, or if he'd just seen this film, but either way, he talked me into seeing the movie. I've a vague notion that it was a late night showing at the Grosvenor Cinema in Ashton Lane but I might be haivering. I loved the way that David Byrne started off on his own, in a more or less empty stage and then the rest of the band and the stage set built up around him.
A great concert movie and a great introduction to a band. Who did the movies introduce to you?
Oh... and why a big suit?
Friday, 4 November 2011
Day 04 - 30 Day Movie Music Challenge
Music from a film that was used to promote an artist (could be film about an artist or just a soundtrack tie in)
I suspect, as with so many things, Elvis was the first to do this, so I could have gone for any of his films... or indeed Britain's answer to Elivis - Cliff. (Honest, I did consider Summer Holiday.)
In the end though, I went for The Beatles and Help!
Loved this film the first time I saw it and, although the style has dated somewhat, the music is as strong as ever. And how can anyone criticise Ringo after seeing his performance in this clip?
So what will you go for? I dare someone to choose Head from The Monkees!
I suspect, as with so many things, Elvis was the first to do this, so I could have gone for any of his films... or indeed Britain's answer to Elivis - Cliff. (Honest, I did consider Summer Holiday.)
In the end though, I went for The Beatles and Help!
Loved this film the first time I saw it and, although the style has dated somewhat, the music is as strong as ever. And how can anyone criticise Ringo after seeing his performance in this clip?
So what will you go for? I dare someone to choose Head from The Monkees!
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Day 03 - 30 Day Movie Music Challenge
Music from a documentary/mockumentary.
A band I love? Has to be Rush. A documentary? Has to be Beyond the Lighted Stage
:-)
I blogged about this documentary in June last year and one of the things I really liked about it was seeing the old footage of the band in their very early days. In particular, there were some snipits from a concert they played in a school hall, just after the release of their first album, while John Rutsey was still the drummer. Someone has posted a whole song's worth of this concert from the DVD extras disk, so here is more than eight minutes worth of Working Man:
Two comments. One: interesting to see that John Rutsey introduced the song. Two: what were they wearing? I mean, what is that thing Alex has round is neck? And the glittery t-shrt was surely ill advised. (Although, I must own up to wearing a glittery Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt in the late seventies!) Geddy appears to be wearing a blouse that's knotted under his moobs and those sleeves that surely contravene umpteen health and safety regulations.
Hopefully some of you at least will have a favourite bit from a music documentary.
{Update: I've altered this challenge from how it was originally posted. Hopefully, it broadens things out and will make it easier for people to join in.}
A band I love? Has to be Rush. A documentary? Has to be Beyond the Lighted Stage
:-)I blogged about this documentary in June last year and one of the things I really liked about it was seeing the old footage of the band in their very early days. In particular, there were some snipits from a concert they played in a school hall, just after the release of their first album, while John Rutsey was still the drummer. Someone has posted a whole song's worth of this concert from the DVD extras disk, so here is more than eight minutes worth of Working Man:
Two comments. One: interesting to see that John Rutsey introduced the song. Two: what were they wearing? I mean, what is that thing Alex has round is neck? And the glittery t-shrt was surely ill advised. (Although, I must own up to wearing a glittery Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt in the late seventies!) Geddy appears to be wearing a blouse that's knotted under his moobs and those sleeves that surely contravene umpteen health and safety regulations.
Hopefully some of you at least will have a favourite bit from a music documentary.
{Update: I've altered this challenge from how it was originally posted. Hopefully, it broadens things out and will make it easier for people to join in.}
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Day 2 - 30 Day Movie Music Challenge
Day 02 - Music from a film scene that makes you happy.
Saw this movie on TV recently, so this scene came to mind immediately:
The Blues Brothers - a bit sweary and even blasphemous in places - but so many great musical moments. For example, just before this scene, the Blues Brothers are walking towards Aretha's cafe and pass John Lee Hooker, sitting in the street, playing and singing - it's almost thrown away but it's pure genius.
I love John Lee Hooker but the Think! sequence, more than any other musical number in the film, makes me happy. Aretha Franklin giving it laldy in her baffies. Outstanding!
{The audio is a bit out of sync with the video in the clip above... which is a shame. The only other clip I can find is this one, which seems to have been made by pointing a camera at the screen while watching the film on the telly. Odd, but it might actually be better quality than the one I've embedded above - and it includes the set up to the musical number too. What do you think? Which one should be embedded?}
Over to you then. Pick a scene with music that makes you happy.
Saw this movie on TV recently, so this scene came to mind immediately:
The Blues Brothers - a bit sweary and even blasphemous in places - but so many great musical moments. For example, just before this scene, the Blues Brothers are walking towards Aretha's cafe and pass John Lee Hooker, sitting in the street, playing and singing - it's almost thrown away but it's pure genius.
I love John Lee Hooker but the Think! sequence, more than any other musical number in the film, makes me happy. Aretha Franklin giving it laldy in her baffies. Outstanding!
{The audio is a bit out of sync with the video in the clip above... which is a shame. The only other clip I can find is this one, which seems to have been made by pointing a camera at the screen while watching the film on the telly. Odd, but it might actually be better quality than the one I've embedded above - and it includes the set up to the musical number too. What do you think? Which one should be embedded?}
Over to you then. Pick a scene with music that makes you happy.
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Thirty Day Movie Music Challenge - Day 1
Back in April (grief, I didn't think it was that long ago) I had a go at a 30 Day Music Challenge from a facebook page. Since then, I've been inundated with requests to do something like it again. (Well, OK... two people asked me if I was going to do it again!) I didn't want to do a repeat, so I had a look to see what else was out there.
There are other music challenges but I thought there'd be too much overlap. There are film challenges which I thought would be interesting but this is a music blog.
Since I couldn't find an existing list I wanted to try, I thought I'd invent my own. So here is the first ever posting in the Thirty Day Movie Music Challenge. So without further ado, I give you:
Thirty Day Movie Music Challenge
Day 01 - Music that is integral to an iconic movie scene.
There were a number of possibilities I considered here. But in the end, there could be only one:
Wayne's World - Bohemian Rhapsody. Simply awesome. Is it possible to reach "that point" in Bohemian Rhapsody without headbanging? Not just an iconic moment, but one of the great opening title sequences.
I acknowledge that my thirty days might be a bit more idiosyncratic than other thirty day challenges and perhaps even a bit too tied to my own interests but I hope the categories are general enough that others feel able to join in.
What do you think? What iconic scene would you choose?
There are other music challenges but I thought there'd be too much overlap. There are film challenges which I thought would be interesting but this is a music blog.
Since I couldn't find an existing list I wanted to try, I thought I'd invent my own. So here is the first ever posting in the Thirty Day Movie Music Challenge. So without further ado, I give you:
Thirty Day Movie Music Challenge
Day 01 - Music that is integral to an iconic movie scene.
There were a number of possibilities I considered here. But in the end, there could be only one:
Wayne's World - Bohemian Rhapsody. Simply awesome. Is it possible to reach "that point" in Bohemian Rhapsody without headbanging? Not just an iconic moment, but one of the great opening title sequences.
I acknowledge that my thirty days might be a bit more idiosyncratic than other thirty day challenges and perhaps even a bit too tied to my own interests but I hope the categories are general enough that others feel able to join in.
What do you think? What iconic scene would you choose?
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Record Industry and MP3 downloads
I have had the occasional rant on this blog about the stupidity of the music industry (see for example these posts). It seems they adopt either a head in the sand or a headless chicken approach whenever online music distribution is mentioned. Apparently they still don't understand music fans or how to make money from online distribution (make it easy to access and cheap to buy - at least that's what I think). It may be though that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
The article, Universal and Sony to change singles release policy, from the BBC website says that two major UK labels are going to end the practice of releasing music for radio airplay long before it is available for purchase. I don't know if this will really make much of an impact on illegal downloading (it could be too little to late - the bad downloading habits may be too firmly entrenched) but it seems an emminately sensible idea anyway and I hope it catches on.
Of course, it is not really a new idea, it a return to old practice because it's the way it used to work when I was a lad. The policy of building up interest and pre-orders by playing a tune on the radio for a long time before release has led to the phenomenon of records appearing high in the chart one week and then dropping like a stone the next. Hopefully, simultaneous release will allow records to build slowly and climb the charts over a period of time like they used to. It could even make the charts more interesting than the have been of late.
So, I think it's a good idea even if it doesn't impact on piracy. But if they announce next that they are dropping the price of legal downloads, I'll start looking for flying pigs.
What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? And do you think it will impact on piracy?
The article, Universal and Sony to change singles release policy, from the BBC website says that two major UK labels are going to end the practice of releasing music for radio airplay long before it is available for purchase. I don't know if this will really make much of an impact on illegal downloading (it could be too little to late - the bad downloading habits may be too firmly entrenched) but it seems an emminately sensible idea anyway and I hope it catches on.
Of course, it is not really a new idea, it a return to old practice because it's the way it used to work when I was a lad. The policy of building up interest and pre-orders by playing a tune on the radio for a long time before release has led to the phenomenon of records appearing high in the chart one week and then dropping like a stone the next. Hopefully, simultaneous release will allow records to build slowly and climb the charts over a period of time like they used to. It could even make the charts more interesting than the have been of late.
So, I think it's a good idea even if it doesn't impact on piracy. But if they announce next that they are dropping the price of legal downloads, I'll start looking for flying pigs.
What do you think? Good idea? Bad idea? And do you think it will impact on piracy?
Thursday, 3 June 2010
New Rush Tracks
As I mentioned in More Rush News, Rush have released a single in advance of the North American Tour. It is a two track single and I am hugely impressed with both songs:
Geddy's vocal style has changed over the years and synthesisers risen to the top and then fallen from grace... but their music has continued to grow and develop. It is exciting and challenging today as it every was.
Let me know what you think!
[Update: The widget isn't working... I'll try to fix it tomorrow.]
[Update 2: Rats! Still can't get the Amazon widget to work. Go there yourself and have a listen!]
[Update 3: If you haven't discovered it already, can I suggest you go to Isorski's Musings and have a look at the Rush review there (Music Review - New Rush Single) for a very thoughtful and helpful review.]
Geddy's vocal style has changed over the years and synthesisers risen to the top and then fallen from grace... but their music has continued to grow and develop. It is exciting and challenging today as it every was.
Let me know what you think!
[Update: The widget isn't working... I'll try to fix it tomorrow.]
[Update 2: Rats! Still can't get the Amazon widget to work. Go there yourself and have a listen!]
[Update 3: If you haven't discovered it already, can I suggest you go to Isorski's Musings and have a look at the Rush review there (Music Review - New Rush Single) for a very thoughtful and helpful review.]
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Univrsal: Fail!
I have posted before about my frustration with the music industry and how it doesn't seem to get digital music distribution. A couple of months ago I named and shamed Warner Music and their decision to pull out of streaming music. (See Warner Music goes backwards!)
Today, I saw an article in the Grauniad which suggests Universal Music Group is also trying to make its music hard to access. (See Behind the music: Universal throws down the gauntlet to download stores for details.) Bizarre!
It is not clear how restricting legal download/streaming services access to you artists' work is in anyone's interest. Except of course that by making a commodity scarce, you might be able to demand a premium price for it.
I found two aspects of the report in the Graudiarn particularly interesting. First, Paul McCartney says it's EMIs fault that the Beatles are unavailable for download from iTunes. I always assumed that it was some legal wrangle over who owned the digital distribution rights but maybe it's just about money. Secondly, the insight into Universal's business model was illuminating. Essentially it seems to involve extorting ludicrously high fees from potential online providers so that what ever happens to the online retailer, Universal always gets paid!
Today, I saw an article in the Grauniad which suggests Universal Music Group is also trying to make its music hard to access. (See Behind the music: Universal throws down the gauntlet to download stores for details.) Bizarre!
It is not clear how restricting legal download/streaming services access to you artists' work is in anyone's interest. Except of course that by making a commodity scarce, you might be able to demand a premium price for it.
I found two aspects of the report in the Graudiarn particularly interesting. First, Paul McCartney says it's EMIs fault that the Beatles are unavailable for download from iTunes. I always assumed that it was some legal wrangle over who owned the digital distribution rights but maybe it's just about money. Secondly, the insight into Universal's business model was illuminating. Essentially it seems to involve extorting ludicrously high fees from potential online providers so that what ever happens to the online retailer, Universal always gets paid!
Thursday, 11 February 2010
Warner Music goes backwards!
I was extremely disappointed to hear that Warner Music is going to stop licensing their music to free streaming services. How bizarre!
The BBC report says: Warner retreats from free music streaming. I think an extended quote would helpfully illustrate their thinking.
The BBC report says: Warner retreats from free music streaming. I think an extended quote would helpfully illustrate their thinking.
"Free streaming services are clearly not net positive for the industry and as far as Warner Music is concerned will not be licensed.The 'get all your music you want for free, and then maybe with a few bells and whistles we can move you to a premium price' strategy is not the kind of approach to business that we will be supporting in the future."
What approach does he support then? The one that almost drove the record industry into the ground? I thought that the music industry was beginning to get it's head round the way the digital world worked and were at least starting to see the potential in making a little money on each transaction from a lot of music (in the digital world) rather than making a lot of money from a little music (in the world of CDs). I can't make up my mind if they are burying their heads in the sand or running about like headless chickens.
Also, what on earth does "net positive" mean? Is that "net"as in net profits or "net" as in Internet? Either way, the statement doesn't quite make sense to me.
I get a bit more confused as I read down the article. It seems that Edgar Bronfman Jr from Warner music is happier with paid subscription services; it is advertising generated revenue models that he seems to dislike. Is that because with an up front subscription payment, they will get a slice of the money just for making their music available whereas the advertising supported model depends on people actually listening to their music? This is not a rhetorical question. I am genuinely unsclear about why he favours the subscription model (other than because he somehow thinks it will generate more money).
XFM, reporting on the same story said Mr Bronfman, "...doubted their [i.e. free streaming services - DM] ability to provide a sustainable alternative to how the industry works currently." This implies the current business model currently works!
What do you think? Advertising supported music more or less works for radio stations, why wouldn't it work for music streaming?
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Joe Bonamassa On Paul Jones' Radio Show
I try to listen to Paul Jones' show on Radio 2 every Monday. Always worth listening to and often someone or something new to chase up after the show.
However, this week's show is especially worth listening to as the last 15 minutes or so features an interview with Joe Bonamassa, a couple of tracks from his new album and a live song - just Joe and his acoustic - brilliant!
The show is available through the listen again service for the next week but there is also a link on the site to an extended interview with Joe that will hopefully be there a good bit longer. However, I would recommend that you and have a listen as soon as possible because it is well worth listening to. :-)
I am hugely impressed with Joe as a musician and in this interview, he comes across as a genuinely good bloke too. If you haven't already discovered how amazing he is, spend some time on his website - particularly JB TV where you can see and hear him play.
I am very much looking forward to his gig in Glasgow this April. Leave a comment if you already have tickets to see him this tour. If you don't have a ticket, leave a comment explaining yourself. :-)
However, this week's show is especially worth listening to as the last 15 minutes or so features an interview with Joe Bonamassa, a couple of tracks from his new album and a live song - just Joe and his acoustic - brilliant!
The show is available through the listen again service for the next week but there is also a link on the site to an extended interview with Joe that will hopefully be there a good bit longer. However, I would recommend that you and have a listen as soon as possible because it is well worth listening to. :-)
I am hugely impressed with Joe as a musician and in this interview, he comes across as a genuinely good bloke too. If you haven't already discovered how amazing he is, spend some time on his website - particularly JB TV where you can see and hear him play.
I am very much looking forward to his gig in Glasgow this April. Leave a comment if you already have tickets to see him this tour. If you don't have a ticket, leave a comment explaining yourself. :-)
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